When to make the Sign of the Cross

[Spencer3096]

Hello, all.

I have been regularly attending my diocese’s EF Mass on Sundays since the week after Epiphany (approximately), and I have a question: when should the congregation make the Sign of the Cross during Mass? I know that one makes the Sign at the beginning (“In nomine Patris, et Filii, etc.”), at the “Indulgentiam, absolutionem etc.”, and the Last Blessing, but are there any other times where this should be done?

I have seen the altar servers make the Sign of the Cross with the priest at various other times, but I usually don’t see anyone in the congregation do so at these times.

Any clarification will be much appreciated.

 

[Landelinus]

When people sign themselves during the traditional mass often varies from parish to parish and from person to person. I don’t think there are hard and fast rules regarding the actions of the congregation during mass. Much of this is governed by unwritten tradition. Some people sign themselves whenever the servers do. But I would say that most common places are at the beginning (In nomine Patris…) and end (Pater et…), and at the end of the confiteor(s) (Indulgentiam, absolutionem…). People will also sign themselves on the forehead, lips, and heart before the Gospel. Hope that helps.

 

[Spencer3096]

Thanks! That helps quite a bit. What I’ve seen thus far is everyone making the Sign of the Cross at the times you mentioned, but only a couple of people at other times (e.g. at the end of the Gloria and Creed).

I probably should have been more clear, in that I was only referring to the “large” Sign of the Cross, not the threefold one before the Gospel reading.

I’ll admit that I’m still not completely sure when it’s okay to verbally respond (it’s always a Missa Cantata w/o incense on Sundays). Almost everyone responds whenever the priest says “Dominus vobiscum”, but I sit next to a guy who makes most of the other responses along with the servers as long as the priest and servers are audible. NB: I’ve never heard anything about any of this either way from either of our priests who celebrate the EF Mass.

 

[corsair]

It seems that the guy next to you has had a lot of Dialog Mass experience. Its OK, maybe not completely traditional but its accepted in most TLM parishes. For those folks making the change from the OF to the EF it makes for an easier transition.

 

[Landelinus]

I’ll admit that I’m still not completely sure when it’s okay to verbally respond (it’s always a Missa Cantata w/o incense on Sundays). Almost everyone responds whenever the priest says “Dominus vobiscum”, but I sit next to a guy who makes most of the other responses along with the servers as long as the priest and servers are audible. NB: I’ve never heard anything about any of this either way from either of our priests who celebrate the EF Mass.

No one responds at the low masses I attend, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a high mass, so I’m a bit rusty on what’s appropriate for audible responses. I think I usually stuck to “et cum spiritu tuo”, “habemus ad dominum”, “dignum et justum est”, “sed libera nos a malo” and the various amens (and maybe the “suscipiat…”). I could be mixing that up with the Latin Novus Ordo I attend, so take that with a grain of salt.